BOSTON - For a third consecutive season, Emmanuel women's soccer punched its ticket to the conference championship game, advancing to Saturday's title match following a 2-0 victory over the Regis Pride on Wednesday night in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Semifinals from Clemente Field. Emmanuel improves to 14-3-3 on the season, riding an eight-game winning streak into the championship. The Saints haven't hosted a women's soccer GNAC Championship match on Clemente Field since 2009.

As the opening whistle blew, an unexpected turn from the weather started a rainy Wednesday night semifinal, bringing gusty winds and showers to Clemente for all 90 minutes.

The Saints were on the attack early, breaking through in the 13th minute with sophomore Aleena Solano scoring her first of the postseason. Solano quickly started a corner kick to the feet of senior Eva Simmons. A one-touch return pass back to Solano allowed for the second-year lefty to whip in a cross, which cleared everyone in the goal mouth and passed over the head of the Pride keeper, into the far side netting, giving Emmanuel a 1-0 lead.

The aggression continued throughout the first half, but save after save by the Regis keeper kept the match at 1-0 through 45 minutes. 

Emmanuel would double its advantage in the 64th minute with senior Annebel Balogh de Galantha scoring her first of the playoffs. The senior center back fired a free kick in on goal from 30 yards out, which the Regis keeper was unable to parry over the bar, as the shot found the back of the net, giving the home side a 2-0 lead.

The Pride nearly got back into Wednesday's match in the 70th minute as an attempt at goal by Julia Benvegnu skipped off the wet playing surface and almost snuck through the legs of the Saints keeper, but sophomore Teigan Robie managed to corral the rebound, keeping the clean sheet intact.

Solano's goal is the eighth of her season, amassing that total in just 11 games played. Balogh de Galantha tallied her third of the season with the insurance goal in the 64th minute. Robie made a pair of stops on the night, as she improves to 14-3-3 on the year. Robie becomes the fourth player in team history with 14 wins in a single season.

Awaiting the Saints in the GNAC Championship game is the No. 2 seed Rivier Raiders, who clinched a trip to their first-ever GNAC Title match, thanks to a 1-0 win over Lasell on Wednesday night.

Emmanuel will look to claim back-to-back titles as the Saints host the Raiders on Saturday, Nov. 8, at 12:00 p.m. on Clemente Field. Saturday's Championship game marks the eighth straight season the title will be contested by the top two seeds in the conference. The winner on Saturday will earn the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Tournament.